Friday, July 23, 2004

Summer in Seattle means Gelatiamo!

Ahh! Summer in Seattle. It is indeed dreamy. Gorgeous weather. Long sunny and warm days with beautiful blue skies. Driving down I-5 is a joy, even in traffic, when you look at the end of the road and all you see is the big and beautiful ice cream cone that is Mount Rainier. Sitting there, staring you out, winking at you, teasing you from afar. An immense cone of Ice Cream.

Yesterday morning I was driving down I-5 towards Burien, distracted by the gorgeous day, admiring the weather and counting my blessings. In fact, the blessings of all Seattleites. I was once again reminded of how lucky we are to live in this beautiful city. G-d's country really. How Mount Rainier, on a clear, crisp and sunny day like today, seems as if it is at arm's length, just at the end of the road. Rainier, with a clearly visible summit, even from afar, all covered in snow, seemed so close. So lovely I get a bit verklempt every time I see it, every time I think about it. Every time I spot the mountain. Every single time it plays peek-a-boo with me (how some can get used to this beauty, take for granted the amazing views of our fair city is beyond me).

After arriving in Burien, to do some work, shop Trader Joe's and Burien Farmers Market, I could not get the idea of the big ice cream cone out of my head. With temperatures reaching the mid 80's and barely a breeze in the air, the sun as hot as can be, I was already looking forward to heading back home, a chilled 68F (my ideal temp) and finding something cold to drink or eat (not to mention put away my market purchases, especially the week's worth of Greek yogurt I had purchased at Trader Joe's). Grilling was out of the question. Just too darn hot.

Then, an epiphany! Gelatiamo! I barely had time to park my car in the garage and put my market loot away when we were out the door and off to 3rd and Union, caddy corner with Benaroya Hall, across from the 98101 US Postal Office and Wild Ginger on the other side of the street.

Gelatiamo makes, right here in Seattle, the best Gelato and sorbetto this side of Rome and Paris. The selection is amazing. They also have beautiful pastries and cakes to order. Italian espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes. The servers are friendly and seem to really enjoy what they do. So, it was Rice, Pistachio, Chocolate and Strawberry for the three of us. Served in the traditional ice cold metal dishes. With a lovely crispy and light as a feather butter and sugar cookie. Bliss!

Maria Coassin (as Italian as they come, her family are Gelato experts back in Italy) and Howard Batten, the owners of Gelatiamo, have imported everything in the shop from Italy. From the ice cream machines to the floor tiles, the espresso makers to the recipes for everything they sell in the shop. Its all Italy, all the time. Ice cream just does not get any better than this. The flavors and textures of their gelatos and sorbettos have no equal. Rich, creamy and luscious.

My favorites are Coconut (no better coconut ice cream in the city), Rice (Amazing, with grains of rice cooked in it), Pistachio, Chocolate. Passion fruit and Mango too but there are many, many more. We had a lovely time and the ice cream was scrumptious. Sitting outside, people watching, making dinner and weekend plans (Vancouver here we come!), while the air cooled down a bit, time went by without us noticing.

A quick walk to Fourth & Virginia to our new favorite neighborhood spot, Lola for an impromptu dinner. No reservations and no worries. After such a wonderful day and delicious gelato, we just knew we were in luck. No need to concern ourselves with finding a table. We would surely find one. Besides, dessert had already been served.

Comments

Summer in Seattle means Gelatiamo!

Ahh! Summer in Seattle. It is indeed dreamy. Gorgeous weather. Long sunny and warm days with beautiful blue skies. Driving down I-5 is a joy, even in traffic, when you look at the end of the road and all you see is the big and beautiful ice cream cone that is Mount Rainier. Sitting there, staring you out, winking at you, teasing you from afar. An immense cone of Ice Cream.

Yesterday morning I was driving down I-5 towards Burien, distracted by the gorgeous day, admiring the weather and counting my blessings. In fact, the blessings of all Seattleites. I was once again reminded of how lucky we are to live in this beautiful city. G-d's country really. How Mount Rainier, on a clear, crisp and sunny day like today, seems as if it is at arm's length, just at the end of the road. Rainier, with a clearly visible summit, even from afar, all covered in snow, seemed so close. So lovely I get a bit verklempt every time I see it, every time I think about it. Every time I spot the mountain. Every single time it plays peek-a-boo with me (how some can get used to this beauty, take for granted the amazing views of our fair city is beyond me).

After arriving in Burien, to do some work, shop Trader Joe's and Burien Farmers Market, I could not get the idea of the big ice cream cone out of my head. With temperatures reaching the mid 80's and barely a breeze in the air, the sun as hot as can be, I was already looking forward to heading back home, a chilled 68F (my ideal temp) and finding something cold to drink or eat (not to mention put away my market purchases, especially the week's worth of Greek yogurt I had purchased at Trader Joe's). Grilling was out of the question. Just too darn hot.

Then, an epiphany! Gelatiamo! I barely had time to park my car in the garage and put my market loot away when we were out the door and off to 3rd and Union, caddy corner with Benaroya Hall, across from the 98101 US Postal Office and Wild Ginger on the other side of the street.

Gelatiamo makes, right here in Seattle, the best Gelato and sorbetto this side of Rome and Paris. The selection is amazing. They also have beautiful pastries and cakes to order. Italian espressos, cappuccinos, and lattes. The servers are friendly and seem to really enjoy what they do. So, it was Rice, Pistachio, Chocolate and Strawberry for the three of us. Served in the traditional ice cold metal dishes. With a lovely crispy and light as a feather butter and sugar cookie. Bliss!

Maria Coassin (as Italian as they come, her family are Gelato experts back in Italy) and Howard Batten, the owners of Gelatiamo, have imported everything in the shop from Italy. From the ice cream machines to the floor tiles, the espresso makers to the recipes for everything they sell in the shop. Its all Italy, all the time. Ice cream just does not get any better than this. The flavors and textures of their gelatos and sorbettos have no equal. Rich, creamy and luscious.

My favorites are Coconut (no better coconut ice cream in the city), Rice (Amazing, with grains of rice cooked in it), Pistachio, Chocolate. Passion fruit and Mango too but there are many, many more. We had a lovely time and the ice cream was scrumptious. Sitting outside, people watching, making dinner and weekend plans (Vancouver here we come!), while the air cooled down a bit, time went by without us noticing.

A quick walk to Fourth & Virginia to our new favorite neighborhood spot, Lola for an impromptu dinner. No reservations and no worries. After such a wonderful day and delicious gelato, we just knew we were in luck. No need to concern ourselves with finding a table. We would surely find one. Besides, dessert had already been served.